Operation Compassion Philippines Inc.

WHAT WE DO

Create lasting positive impact in the lives of those we serve

Operation Compassion Philippines (OCP) is a relief and developmental non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to uplifting the lives of orphaned children, the underdeveloped communities, the marginalized, and vulnerable sectors in the Philippines. We are duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), licensed to operate and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

OCP is also certified by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification as a donee institution. OCP is dedicated to promoting Filipino values and love for God as we believe these are essential for the development of marginalized sectors in society.

Our Beginnings

Operation Compassion was born out of a deep commitment to extend love, grace, and compassion to the victims of the calamity that struck the provinces of Aurora and Quezon in November-December 2004. During this period, three typhoons caused devastating landslides and floods, which, along with logs, buried entire towns and villages. Whole communities were left homeless—physically, economically, and emotionally devastated. In response, a team of Christian volunteers organized to provide emergency relief and medical assistance to the two most severely affected barangays: Barangay Banglos in General Nakar and Barangay Ilog in Infanta. This effort gave rise to the i-Rebuild program.

In December 2011, Operation Compassion faced another pivotal moment when Typhoon Sendong struck the provinces of Southern Mindanao, specifically the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The disaster left thousands of children orphaned and homeless, compelling Operation Compassion to work with the MSWD to find homes for these children. This initiative led to the establishment of the i-Foster Care program.

Since then, Operation Compassion has continued to extend relief and medical missions to provinces and cities devastated by typhoons. Through community development projects, it has helped rebuild the lives of Internally Displaced Persons and developed foster families to provide alternative parental care for abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and other children in need of special protection.

Our Vision and Mission

Vision:

Operation Compassion Philippines envisions a society of empowered, progressive families and communities passionately committed to God, country, and the holistic development of marginalized and vulnerable sectors.

Mission:

Operation Compassion Philippines is a volunteer-driven, non-governmental organization dedicated to serving marginalized and vulnerable children, families, and communities through holistic community development and welfare services. Our mission is to bring hope and transform lives with compassion and love for God and country, creating a meaningful and lasting impact through partnerships with individuals, organizations, and communities.

Goals:

Operation Compassion is committed to uplifting vulnerable and marginalized sectors by providing assistance to disaster-stricken communities, developing a community of qualified foster and adoptive families to ensure every child grows in a loving home, and cultivating strong, strategic partnerships with organizations and institutions that share a common mission to serve and empower.

Our Core Values

Board of Directors

Chairman : Dr. Cielito F. Habito

Dr. Habito is Chairman and Founding Partner of consultancy think tank Brain Trust Inc., and Chairman of Operation Compassion Philippines. He also writes the weekly op-ed column “No Free Lunch” in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, now on its 22^nd year. He recently ended a 23-year tenure at the Ateneo de Manila University as Professor of Economics, concurrently Senior Fellow and former Director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

In 1992-1998, he served in the Cabinet of former President Fidel V. Ramos as Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, heading the National Economic and Development Authority. Before joining government, he was Professor and Chair at the Department of Economics of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

He had also worked at the World Bank, Harvard University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies in Kyoto University, and Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, AusAID, JICA, UNICEF, FAO and other international development agencies have tapped him to advise the government of the Philippines and of other countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. He served as Chair of the Governing Board of the Jakarta-based Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in 2020-2023, member of the Board of Governors of the Management Association of the Philippines in 2022-2023, and Trustee at the Ramon magsaysay Award Foundation in 2018-2024. He is currently an Independent Director at First Gen, Sun Life Prosperity Funds, Manila Exposition Complex Inc. and PHINMA Corporation, and member of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation’s Board of Trustees, JICA-Philippines Advisory Committee, and World Bank-Philippines CSO Advisory Group.

Apart from Operation Compassion Philippines, his other civil society affiliations include the Knights of Columbus, Galing Pook Foundation, and Clean Air Asia. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development. He holds a Ph.D. and Master of Arts in Economics from Harvard University, Master of Economics from the University of New England (Australia), and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Major in Agricultural Economics), Summa cum Laude from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

Vice Chairman: Gerard O. Zorrilla

“Gerry” has better than four decades of experience in corporate communications, public affairs, government relations and crisis & issues management.

In the late 80’s, he was head of Marketing & Advertising Sales at Nova Communications prior to joining GMA Television Network’s Merchandising and Program Production team. He then moved to Singapore to join BASF’s South East Asia regional headquarters where he established and supervised the German chemical giant’s corporate communications network spanning twenty countries from the Indian sub-continent thru Southeast Asia to the Australia – New Zealand region

Gerry currently supervises Issues Management Group’s business development, serves as senior counsel on-call and continues to work closely with colleagues on strategy development.

President: Jose Mari T. Albert

Better known as Butch, is the owner and Chairman of the Board of Fila Isport Life Inc. and Chairman and Founder of I-Sportlife Ministries, Inc.

He was Resident manager of Central Azucarrera de Bais, the largest producer of raw sugar in the province of Negros Oriental. He has received such awards in the field of business such as Most Outstanding Athletic Gear Brand for Fila, Most Outstanding Sports Apparel Brand, Marketing Excellence for Values and many more.

He graduated From De La Salle University with a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and finished his secondary education at International School in Brussels, Belgium.

Corporate Sec: Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua

Teodoro C. Pascua, a lawyer for more than thirty years now, was appointed as Undersecretary of the DTI in August 2016. As the Undersecretary for the CPG, he oversees the Bureau of Philippine Standards, the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau, and the Fair Trade Enorcement Bureau.

Undersecretary Pascua previously held a government position as the Deputy Director General for Technical Education and Skills Development Operations of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from 2010 to 2016, wherein he provided advice and assistance to the Director General with regards to the formulation and implementation of policies of the agency, as well as to the supervision of the operational activities of all the divisions under the Office of the Director General. He also served as a legal assistant in the Bureau of Employment Services of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in 1981. He has also been involved in the legal matters of several private entities like the Cityland Development Corporation where he served a s legal counsel, and a member and partner in law firms like the Bito, Misa, Lozada Law Offices and thereafter with the Misa Law Offices where he was junior partner. To date, he is a partner of the Yulo, Aliling, Pascua & Zuñiga Law Offices, but is on leave since 2010 due to his government post.

He finished his Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila (1982) and was elected to the International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and took his Bachelor of Laws from the UP Law School (1982). He has also been the Head of Delegation of the Philippine Contingent to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Skills Competition in 2012 and 2014.

Treasurer: Jose Emmanuel B. Escaro

Jem Escaro is currently with the Strategic Alliance Holdings Inc. as its Chairman.

He was former Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Political Affairs (OPA) under the Office of the President in the year 2011.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Emmanuel M. Luna

Dr. Luna is a Professor of Community Development at the University of the Philippines- Diliman since July 2005 up to the present.

He was Chairman of the Department of Community Development at UP-Diliman 1991 – 1995 and 2000-2001.

He completed his M.A. and Ph.D. In Urban & Regional Planning from UP in 1986 and 2000 respectively, having graduated cum laude from University of the Philippines with a BS in Community Development. His Fields of Specialization: Community Organization and Development; Community-Based Disaster Risk Management; Participatory Research and Evaluation.

He is also a Licensed Environmental Planner

Renato P. Constantino

Renato “Kaka” Constantino is a social entrepreneur officer at the Tarlac Mill and previously worked at Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) and R. Dan & Co., Inc. He studied at the Asian Institute of Management, graduating in 1992. A proud native of Maragondon, Cavite.

History

The Birth and Growth of Operation Compassion

Operation Compassion was born when a group of individuals felt a sense of duty to help the provinces of Aurora and Quezon in 2004. In November and December of that year, three typhoons caused landslides and floods, devastating countless communities and families.

These Christian volunteers mobilized to provide emergency relief in Barangay Banglos in General Nakar and Barangay Ilog in Infanta, which were two barangays devastated by the natural disasters. Since then, OCP has grown into a full-fledged organization that provides relief and medical assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, rebuild the lives of indigenous people through community-driven development, and provide care to orphans.

In everything we do, God is at the center because we believe spreading His love to the people means doing our part to empower those who need to be empowered.

About Us

Create lasting positive impact in the lives of those we serve

Vision:

Mission:

Goals:

Anchored in Faith, Family, and Filipino Heritage

The Birth and Growth of Operation Compassion